Woman Dies on Six Flags Roller Coaster

Park confirms death, but details still scarce

(Newser)
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Tragedy in Texas last night: A rep for Six Flags Over Texas has confirmed that an adult woman died while riding a 14-story-high roller coaster. WFAA has a statement from the park on the incident, which happened around 6:30pm local time: "We are deeply saddened to share that earlier this evening an adult woman died in the park while on the Texas Giant," it said. "The ride has been closed pending further investigation." It's the second fatality at the park, which opened in 1961; a woman drowned on a ride in 1999.

Witness reports say the woman's safety restraint may not have worked properly, the Dallas Morning News notes. When the woman mentioned her concerns to an attendant, "He was basically nonchalant," says a witness who was standing in line. "He was, like, 'As long as you heard it click, you’re fine.'" Then, during a sudden shift on the ride, "the lady basically tumbled over,” she said. "We heard her screaming. We were, like, ‘Did she just fall?'" Another witness tells CNN: "There's a turn that's pretty steep, and the person behind her empty seat said she fell out there—just flew out." The ride includes three turns of less than 90 degrees and has a top speed of 65 mph, the Morning News reports; there's also a 147-foot drop, CNN notes.

to be fair the fat cow shouldn't have been on the ride to begin with. I ride more coasters than most and see very large people forcing themselves into the seats that were not made for them. I am not skinny by a long shot and can't fit into at least one coaster at cedar point so not judging just making a true statement.
This is going to give 6flags fits tho as from my understanding they have been planning on doing this steel track treatment to all of their old wood coaster. (I was not much on the giant but the iron rattler is really good)

Vincebus

Jul 21, 2013 6:35 AM CDT

what a way to go! lucky,,, it beats dyin' a slow aging death. i hope i go out in similar way.

rhinojake

Jul 20, 2013 9:20 PM CDT

First the West, TX fertilizer plant explosion and now this.... I'd "bet the farm" that like the fertilizer plant, which hadn't been inspected by the state in years, that neither was this roller coaster by the appropriate state inspectors....

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